Theatre Admissions

Or How to Join the Cast of Characters

Visit Us

Northeastern’s approach to a theatre education is unique, and we’d love to tell you more about it in person. To arrange a private information session, contact Darren Evans: d.evans@northeastern.edu.

The theatre department offers monthly First Friday information sessions throughout the year. Please visit Northeastern Undergraduate Admissions to register. We also recommend you attend the “Explore Northeastern” presentation at the nearby Welcome Center and take a student-led campus tour.

Can’t make it to campus? Or have questions about your visit? Contact Darren Evans at 617.373.2245.

Spring 2018 Theatre Open Houses

All prospective students are invited to visit our department and discover first-hand what it’s like to be a theatre student at Northeastern at our Spring Open Houses on Friday, March 23 or Friday, April 6.

You’ll have the opportunity to preview classes, meet faculty and students, and see our spring production of HAIR. You can choose to come for the whole day or just the parts that interest you – please fill out this RSVP form to register. Visiting family members are welcome to visit classes and attend the production as well. (The College of Arts, Media, and Design will also host college-wide Welcome Days on Saturday, March 24 and Friday, April 13.)

Once you register, you will receive an email with additional information about campus directions and parking.

Auditions

Auditions for the theatre major are not required, but are encouraged. You may audition in person on campus or submit a video audition as part of your application. Because we are not a conservatory, your admission to Northeastern is not exclusively talent-based. But auditioning can help to enhance your admissions profile and increase your merit-based financial aid if you are accepted.

Please prepare two contrasting monologues and, if you wish, 16 bars of a song. Your monologue selections should be no longer than a total of 3 minutes in length combined. We recommend that you select contemporary monologues and only do a classic piece if that is your particular strength or interest. Choose pieces that have meaning to you; we are looking for honesty and a strong commitment to what you are doing.

On Campus Auditions

On-campus auditions for Fall 2018 will take place in early November, exact dates TBA. For more information on auditions, please email Jesse Hinson: j.hinson@northeastern.edu.

Video Auditions

Students who cannot attend campus auditions may submit an audition video using Slideroom as part of their application. The audition requirements are the same.

The On-Campus Audition Day

The audition day will begin with a welcome session in the Theatre Department offices with refreshments. Our faculty and current students will share information about our program and answer any questions you may have. After the information session, applicants will be brought to a waiting room and seen in the order in which they signed up.

Once your monologue audition is complete, please check out with the audition staff in the check-in room. After that, you are free to leave. You can expect the entire process to take about three hours (somewhat less for those who are auditioning first). We like to talk with each person individually to get to know you a little better.

Audition Advice

We recommend that you select contemporary monologues that are appropriate to your age and with which you can easily identify (though do feel free to ignore the gender of the characters). If you are drawn to an older play or a play in another language, consider a contemporary translation or adaptation. You are not required to perform a classical piece, so only perform verse (Shakespeare, etc.) if you feel confident doing so.

If you choose your piece from a monologue book, please be aware that many other actors may have also and your choice, as a result, may be overdone. Make sure you have read the whole play from which you chose your monologue; we may wish to discuss it with you at your audition.

Finally, remember we are most interested in seeing who you are in the audition. We want to see you reflected through the characters you play and the pieces you perform.